Control device



Dec. 5, 1939. H MCENIRY 2,182,030

CONTROL DEVICE Filed NOV. 10, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l I '=Zj Z In ventor 1521206 22 123 2)? A iiorneys Q H. M ENIRY Dec. 5, I939.

CONTROL DEVICE Filed Nov. 10, 1938 2 sheets-sheet 2 Inventor M A tiomeys Patented Dec. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL DEVICE Application November 10, 1938, Serial No. 239,880

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a control device for engine driven electric generators used for electric welding, and has for the primary object the provision of an electric mechanism adapted to be electrically connected directly in the circuit of the generator of the welding electrode and to the throttle valve of the engine, whereby the speed of the engine from idling speed to any selected speed above idling speed will be under direct control of the welding operation or the electrode being brought into operative and inoperative positions, so that the engine will be brought to idling speed on the operator positioning the welding electrode in an inoperative position and will quickly advance the throttle valve toward open position to rapidly increase the speed of the engine to a selected speed of operation on positioning the welding electrode in operative position with the delay of the engine reaching the selected speed of operation from idling speed reduced to a minimum.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device which will be extremely responsive to the placing of the welding electrode in operative and inoperative positions and which'will consist of a minimum number of parts that are of durable construction, economical to manufacture and maintain in operation and will include an easily operated means for varying the speed of operation of the engine above idling speed and which may be easily and quickly varied at the will of the operator and will maintain any of its adjusted positions without the danger of becoming accidentally out of adjustment.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation illustrating a control device for an engine driven electric generator used for electric welding and showing the device mounted on the engine and connected to the throttle valve thereof.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View illustrating the electric mechanism.

Figure 3 is a top plan view illustrating the device removed from the engine.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an end elevation illustrating the device.

, of heat during the use of the device.

Figure 6' is a diagrammatical view illustrating the wiring diagram.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral ii indicates a fragmentary portion of an internal combustion engine employed for drivinga generator of an electric welding apparatus, the generator being indicated diagrammatically in Figure 6 and designated by the character 8 while the work to be welded is indicated by the character 'i and the electrode by the character 8. The generator is connected to the work I by a conductor 9 and also connected to the generator is a conductor l0 and connected to the electrode 8 is a conductor ii. Through the use of the present invention in the electric circuit :Iust described and on the engine 5 for controlling the speed of operation thereof, the conductors ii and 9 may be of any selected length so that the Welding operation can be carried on at places remotely located to the engine as well as the generator, thereby rendering the device especially usful in welding metallic frame construction of buildings. Of course, the device is not necessarily restricted to this particular use but is merely brought out to clearly indicate that the present invention will permit welding operations to be carried on at a considerable distance from the (all generator as well as the engine without any mav terial loss of electrical energy and still be extremely responsive in the control of the speeds of the engine in accordance with the position the operator places the electrode 8.

The present invention is indicated in entirety by the character l2 and consists of an electric solenoid iii of a special construction, the electric leads thereof being indicated by the character It and one of said leads is connected to the conductor ill and the other lead to the conductor l l. The winding of the solenoid is indicated by the character It and is made from a very heavy gage copper wiring suitably insulated, as shown in Figure 2, so as not to generate an excessive amount The winding it is mounted within a metallic barrel or sleeve i6 equipped with end pieces i? carrying a sleeve 53. The sleeve it extends through the end pieces and centrally of the winding and projects a selected distance beyond one of the end pieces, as clearly shown in Figure 2 to slidably support a core stop element IQ of elongated formation. Slidable in the sleeve is a core 2!! having one end equipped with a brass facing 2! to prevent the core from sticking to the stop element or member I9 due to magnetism. The core 20 is secured to a rod 22 equipped with a ball and socket joint 23 for connecting said rod to an arm 24 secured on the shaft 25 of the saddle valve of the carbureter 26 of the engine 5.

When the solenoid is energized the core 20 is moved thereby in a direction to open the throttle of the carbureter, consequently advance the speed of operation of the engine 5. Secured on the arm 2 2 is' a weight 21 so arranged that it will act on the arm 24 to close the throttle valve into engine idling speed on the deenergization of the solenoid. The Weight 2? is carried by a stem 23 adjustably secured 'on the arm 24 so that the effect of the weight on the arm 2% may be varied to increase and decrease the speed of movement of the throttle valve into engine idling speed.

The stop element i9 is adjustable endwise of the sleeve 2! for the purpose of varying the movement of the core 20 under the influence of the solenoid 53 when energized, consequently providing means whereby the speed of the engine may be varied to any selected speed above idling speed. The stop element i9 is provided with a series of teeth 29 and meshing therewith is a gear 3!] secured on a shaft 3! journaled in an offset portion 32 of the sleeve 2! and is equipped with a finger piece 33 whereby the gear 3i] may be rotated in either direction and thereby bring about sliding movement of the stop element i9 in opposite directions.

Carried by the stop element 59 and extending through a slot 34 in the sleeve 2! is a pointer 35 movable over a scale plate 3 5 having suitable graduations thereon and which will permit the operator to easily adjust the stop element into a selected position for bringing about a selected speed of operation of the engine 5 above idling speed.

The electric solenoid I3 is mounted on a base plate 31 by screws or like fasteners 38 and one end of said base plate is shaped to provide a mounting 39 in the form of a fitting which may be readily clamped between the carbureter 26 and the intake manifold 48 of the engine 5 so as to position the solenoid and other parts in close proximity to the throttle valve and permit easy connection therewith and through the use of a minimum number of parts.

In operation, when the electrode 8 is positioned by the operator a considerable distance away from the work 1 the electric circuit of the generator will be broken, consequently the solenoid l3 will be deenergized and the weight 2'! positions the throttle valve in engine idling speed. As soon as the operator brings the electrode 3 into welding position adjacent the work i to form a weld the circuit of the generator is closed, consequently the electric solenoid is energized which rapidly advances the speed of the engine to a selected speed of operation by the core of the solenoid being directly connected to the arm of the throttle valve as heretofore explained in detail. Should the operator desire, the speed of operation of the engine, while the welding operation is being carried on, may be easily changed through the manipulation of the finger piece 33 and referring to the position of the indicator 35 on the scale plate 36, it being understood that the stop element varies the distance of movement of the core 20 under the influence of the solenoid when energized and consequently provides means wherein the speed of the operation of the engine above idling speed is varied.

The shaft 3| has screw threads to receive a lock nut 32' for releasably securing the shaft against accidental rotation and consequently preventing the position of the stop element [9 from. accidentally changing.

It is believed that the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, will fully set forth the construction and advantages of this invention to those skilled in the art to which such a device relates, so that further detailed description will not be required.

What I claim is:

1. A control device for engine driven generators of an electric welding apparatus comprising an electric solenoid including a single winding connected directly in an electric circuit of a generator driven by an engine of an electric welding apparatus and provided with a core operating in a sleeve for the support of said winding and projecting a distance beyond one end of the solenoid, means for connecting said core to a throttle valve of the engine for advancing the throttle valve toward any open position by the energization of the solenoid, a weight adjustably connected to the throttle valve for returning the latter to engine idling speed on the deenergization of the solenoid, an elongated rigid stop element slidably mounted in the sleeve of the solenoid for varying the distance of travel of the core, teeth formed on the stop element, a gear in mesh with said teeth, a hand piece for rotating the gear in either direction, an indicator secured on the stop element, said sleeve having a slot to slidably receive the indicator, a scale plate over which the indicator moves and mounted on the sleeve, and means for releasably securing the finger piece against accidental rotation.

2. A control device for engine driven generators of electric welding apparatus comprising an electric solenoid including a single winding connected directly in an electric circuit of a generator driven by an engine of an electric welding apparatus and provided with a core, means for connecting said core to a throttle valve of the engine for advancing the throttle valve toward an open position by the energization of the solenoid, a weight adjustably connected to the throttle valve for returning the latter to engine idling speed on the deenergization of the solenoid, a rigid stop element adjustably mounted in the solenoid for varying the distance of travel of the core, teeth formed on the stop element, a gear in mesh with said teeth, a hand piece for rotating the gear in either direction, an indicator secured on the stop element, a scale plate over which the indicator moves, means for releasably securing the finger piece against accidental rotation, and a base plate for supporting the solenoid, gear and scale plate and including a fitting to be received and secured in between the carbureter and an intake manifold of the engine.

HORACE MCENIRY. 

